If you suspect a pest problem in your home, you may want to consider professional pest control help. Selecting a pest control service is as important as selecting other professional services. NPMA suggests the following guidelines for selecting a pest control service.

• A good place to start is to ask someone you know who has used pest control services. Inquire about the type of pest problem encountered and how satisfied were they with the service.
• Memberships in the National, and State pest control associations are a good indicator that the company has access to modern technical information and is committed to further education.
• Reach a complete understanding with the company before work starts. Find out what the pest is, how the problem will be treated, how long the period of treatment will be, and what results can be expected.
• Be sure you know what is guaranteed and what is not.
• Buy value, not price. What appears to be a real bargain may need a second look.
• Finally, call the Department of Agriculture, regarding years in business or experience in any particular field.

Pest management plays a major role in allowing us to live healthier, more prosperous and comfortable lives. The pest management professional relies on pesticide application as just one part of a total pest management program. The untrained consumer, who purchases a pesticide over-the-counter, can only make an intuitive judgment on how to properly apply the pesticide. However, the professional pest management technician relies on training, expertise and more sophisticated techniques to manage pests in an environmentally friendly manner.